Number one. Número uno. Numéro un. Nummer eins.No matter what language you speak, these all translate into the same thing when it comes to sports: the best.The No. 1 ranking signifies you’re the best of the best in your respective sport.That’s until the college football season rolls around.I’ve been quiet about my feelings toward LSU football and its ranking this season.And this week would have been no different if it wasn’t for recent crazy rankings.First of all, how the heck did Alabama hurdle past the Tigers from No. 8 to No. 2 in the AP Poll?Secondly, have the voters been watching different games than I have?Last week’s unanimous No. 1, USC, lost to unranked Oregon State.Last week’s No. 3, Georgia, lost to a top-10 Alabama squad.Last week’s No. 4, Florida, lost to unranked Ole Miss.That leaves No. 2 Oklahoma and No. 5 LSU as the only top-5 winners from a week ago.Logic would say that Oklahoma would move to No. 1 — which happened — and LSU would move to No. 2.That was the case in the Coaches Poll, but ‘Bama jumped three undefeated teams — Texas, Missouri and LSU — in the AP Poll.I had to refresh my computer screen just to make certain it wasn‘t a glitch.The AP voters got this week’s top-three teams right — just not in the correct order.LSU should be the No. 1 team in the land.Let’s rewind for a second.I’ve never understood how the preseason rankings work. This season, just like many in the past, I wondered how the national championship team — a team that ended the season ranked No. 1 — could fall to No. 6 in the following year‘s rankings.The team that won the championship crystal ball and finished the season ranked No. 1 is booted down five spots because players graduated.Fast forward five weeks into the season, and I’m still asking that question.LSU is the defending national championship team and hasn’t lost since Nov. 23. But the Tigers aren’t ranked No. 1.That, my dear friends, is ridiculous.Sports analysts around the country have bashed LSU for its weak non-conference schedule.But the Sooners (4-0) opened this season against Chattanooga, Cincinnati, Washington and TCU.It‘s true TCU — the only ranked opponent Oklahoma has faced this season — started the season 4-0 before losing to the Sooners, but they beat New Mexico, Stephen F. Austin, Stanford and Southern Methodist.With wins against these teams, you have to ask why TCU was even ranked.That leaves Chattanooga (1-4), Cincinnati (3-1), who needed a missed fourth-quarter field goal to defeat Akron, 17-15 this weekend, and Washington (0-4) as the “formatible” opponents Oklahoma has faced.It’s almost like they planned to play poor teams so voters would be forced to rank them No. 1.The Tigers, on the other hand, have also started the season perfect.The only difference between the two 4-0 records is LSU defeated a top-10 team — Auburn, who was ranked No. 10 when LSU won.Many also seem to forget the Tigers opened the season against Appalachian State, who upset Michigan last season. The Mountaineers have also won the last three Division I-AA titles, making opening weekend against them a game that could have been dangerous.Though North Texas was a giveaway, the Tigers have defeated a three-time national champion, a top-10 team and a good/underrated Mississippi State squad this season.Yes, Mississippi State is a good team.With the exception of an opening week stumble against Louisiana Tech, the Bulldogs’ three losses have come to opponents that have a combined record of 11-2: Auburn (4-1), Georgia Tech (3-1) and LSU (4-0).Kind of a rough start for a team that looked to be on the right path last season.For those trying to make an argument for Alabama as No. 1, keep this in mind: they defeated Clemson — who was ranked No. 9 — and Georgia, but Clemson lost to Maryland.Maryland barely beat Delaware, 14-7, the first week of the season.The only reason Clemson has three wins this season is because they’ve opened against Citadel, North Carolina State and South Carolina State this year.If all goes accordingly, LSU fans might have to wait until the Nov. 8 showdown against Alabama to see which team is the best in the Southeastern Conference Western Division — and the country.Until then, let’s just hope the voters can get it right and put the Tigers atop the rankings.—-    Contact Jay St. Pierre at [email protected]